Protect Horses from Dying Ash Trees and Wildfire Threat

Horse owners might overlook wildfire threats from insect infestation on surrounding trees.
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Horse owners recognize that fire prevention is critical on the farm, but might overlook threats from insect infestation on surrounding trees. The emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmarie, is a beetle first discovered in 2002 in Michigan and Windsor, Ontario, and has killed ash trees by the tens of millions in North America. According to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the beetle has been confirmed in 20 states (see sidebar) as of Aug. 5, 2013. While the threat of wildfires is unfortunately common in the western United States, states with EAB infestation could have an ever increasing threat of larger wildfires.

Emerald Ash Borer Detections:

  • Connecticut
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Missouri
  • New Hampshire
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • Tennessee
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin

The EAB has no natural predators and the use of insecticides is expensive and has variable results, depending on the product. As a result, the continued threat of this pest moving across the country is very real. During the EAB life cycle, the adult beetle will feed on the foliage of the as tree and lay eggs on the bark of the tree. The resulting larvae hatch from the eggs and then bore into the bark of the tree where they remain until spring, feeding on the critical inner bark and thus interfering with the tree’s ability to utilize nutrients and water. This ultimately leads to the death of the tree. In the spring the adults emerge from the tree and fly a short distance to continue the life cycle.

The dead ash trees resulting from EAB infestation constitute a potential fire hazard, and should be removed from farms to protect horses and property. Check with a cooperative Extension agent on the legal ways to dispose of trees, as transporting them to a secondary location can also spread the pest. Fire risk increases during times of drought and when abundant fuel sources are available, such as the case when dead trees and shrubs are present.

In an effort to mitigate the hazard of wildfire on the farm, owners should establish a defensible space by removing flammable vegetation from around houses, barns, machinery, and horses. The incorporation of fuel breaks, strategic grazing, and landscaping with non-combustible materials and fire resistive plants can help reduce the risk of disaster (see "Tips to Protect Horses from Fire" sidebar)

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